Oh, wow...what is that smell?!  If you have ever smelled a skunk, you will never forget that scent! 

Skunks are familiar wildlife found around the Arlington TN area. The most common and recognizable skunk is the Striped Skunk, which can be found all over North America. Skunks are small animals, about the size of a domestic house cat. In the wild, the lifespan of a skunk is about three years, but they can often survive ten years in captivity.

Skunks like to hide. Skunks thrive in a variety of different environments. They nest in hollow trees, stumps and sometimes under porches and decks. If necessary, they will burrow their own den underground and use tree branches, leaves and brush for concealment.

Skunks feed on a number of sources, such as insects, grubs, berries, frogs and even small rodents. They are nocturnal and are most active at night. However, skunks will sometimes venture out during the day in search of food or to find a mate. Other than during mating season, they are solitary animals, spending most of their time alone.

Their stinky spray isn’t a weapon — it’s a warning. Like other smaller animals, the skunk’s weapons are all about self-defense, not offense. The organic sulfur-compound they eject from two small anal glands (known as a musk) is signaling to the predator, “I taste bad!” The spray warns predators to stay away. Skunks are typically not aggressive, but will spray if they feel threatened. 

Their spray is a last resort. Skunks usually avoid conflict and frequently choose flight over fight. Unless they’re suddenly startled, they will give you lots of warning before they spray. A skunk starts by lifting its tail like a flag. That lift gets the tail out of the way of the spray, but also says, “Look here; I’m a skunk. Don’t you know what skunks do? Shouldn’t you be leaving now?”

Beware if the skunk feels threatened. When skunks feel threatened, they give a warning before spraying by raising their tail, hissing, growling, and stomping their rear feet. Then they start running at you and stomping. If you don’t know what’s good for you by then, you probably deserve the spraying. (Dogs are not known for figuring out what’s good for them!)

If you happen upon a skunk and are lucky enough to see the warning, get away FAST. A skunk can spray its victim as far as 10 feet away! All of these warnings are an effort to display their smelly intentions before they actually spray, because it takes 10 to 12 days to replenish their stinky supply. The natural production of their offensive spray isn’t a quick process. It can take almost two weeks for the skunk to make enough for just a few shots.

Skunks are pretty easy to keep away. As nocturnal animals that avoid conflict, motion sensitive lights and lawn sprinklers are an excellent way to keep skunks out of your yard. Additionally, check around your property to seal small openings under decks, sheds or other areas that a skunk may decide is a potential den.

Skunks can cause some serious damage to your home and yard. Their powerful digging claws can make numerous holes in your lawn while searching for food. Burrowing underneath your porch to prepare their den can create instability in the foundation. Also, skunks are a major health concern as they are known carriers of rabies.

Baby skunks are born in litters of one to fifteen kittens; the skunk gestation period is 60 to 75 days. Kittens conceived at the beginning of the mating cycle by older skunks in February will be born between by the beginning of May. Kittens born to yearling mothers conceived in April will be born at the end of June. After mating, male skunks have little to do with the protection, feeding and rearing of young skunks. Rearing litters of kittens is entirely up to the female.

Baby skunks really are cute. They never lose the cuteness of those soft little ears and that little white stripe running up the nose. However, skunks really can be smelly. Even de-scented skunks have some body odor to them. A gathering of skunks is called a surfeit, which means excess, surplus, glut, or oversupply. As you can guess from the name, for most people even one skunk is far too many!

Skunks are nocturnal and most active at night. However, they will sometimes venture out during the day in search of food or to find a mate. Skunks do not hibernate. They tend to be inactive during the coldest months of winter, gathering in communal dens for warmth. The rest of the year, skunks are generally solitary, living and foraging alone.

Most of the time skunks will pass through your property and you’ll never know they were there. They are nocturnal and come out at night.  If you do see a skunk in the daytime, you should definitely leave it alone as it may have rabies.

So if you are not planning to make a household pet out of that cute little skunk, call Apex Wildlife Control. One of our highly skilled wildlife technicians will be happy to come out and remove your stinky little visitor!

If You Need Humane Skunk Removal In Arlington TN, Fill Out The Contact Form Below. 

Or Call 901-598-8555 And One Of Our Friendly Office Staff Members Will Be Happy To Help You!